Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM) is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia. It’s an absurd practice with no health benefits but instead harms the victims both physically and psychologically.
Although the exact origin of female genital mutilation (FGM) is unknown, scholars have suggested it could have originated around 2000 years ago, from Ancient Egypt and Sudan or Ancient Rome where it was used on female slaves to prevent pregnancy and sexual relations. FGM has since spread to other regions where it merged with existing initiation rituals for men and women. Different cultures have different reasons for practicing FGM, including maintaining virginity for marriage, protecting a girls sexual purity and morality, and increasing or reducing sexual pleasure.
The prevalence of FGM varies worldwide, but it is majorly present in some countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and within their diasporas. As of 2024, UNICEF estimates that worldwide 230 million girls and women (144 million in Africa, 80 million in Asia, 6 million in Middle East, and 1-2 million in other parts of the world) has been subjected to one or more types of FGM.
According to research, Nigeria and Somalia has the highest rate of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the world in total numbers and It is usually experienced by girls aged 0 to 15 years old. Among the largest ethnic groups that practice some form of FGM are the Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Hausa, and Kanuri. The Fulanis do not practice any form. Practice among states of Nigeria vary from 0%-1% in Yobe to 90%-100% in Benue and 90%-98% in Ondo. No federal law prohibits FGM.
Although , in May 2015, then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed a federal law banning FGM which was a good move in ending the virus, the new law alone was unable to address the practice because many communities are still practicing it till date.
FGM has been a big problem and it still is and It’s so unfortunate that girls are being mutilated and cut every 10seconds globally. Measures need to be taken in eradicating this virus that violates our human rights.
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